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(erielack) Olean, NY and WNYP



Schuyler and Listers:

As a 'native' of the S. Tier and the Olean area (Wellsville, actually, but I've spent quite a bit of time fanning this area), I take a stab at answering some of the questions you raised.

On Sat. 2/10 Schuyler wrote:

<snip> (a lost art, IMHO)

>>And where, exactly, is Machias Junction?  I find Machias NY, and
>>there's a 90 degree intersection there, but I can't see if there's an interchange there.  
>>And who will WNY&P interchange with at either end of that line?

I handle both of these at one.  I know the NS (ex CR, nee PC / PRR) crosses the B&P (ex B&O) in that vicinity.  I'm not sure if Machias was on the Buffalo or Rochester side of the B&P's line.  The Rochester side has been abandoned either at the time the B&P acquired the line or shortly thereafter.  I don't know if they interchange there or not currently with NS or if they even can.  I've driven NYS Rt. 16 from Olean through Machias and just south (I think) of Machias you go under a RR overpass with B&O markings, that again, I think still has track on it.  The NS Buffalo line is just east of this point.  Again, I don't know for certain if interchange could occur there.  There was a photo a few years ago in Classic Trains magazine of the PRR / B&O crossing with a B&O train waiting as a PRR train went through the diamond (or vice versa).  Again, I don't know if this was on the Buffalo or Rochester side of the B&O. 

Obviously, this is not critical, since WNYP and B&P already interchange in Salamanca.  My guess is that WNYP will interchange with NS with shipment to / from the Olean area and other points on WNYP's legacy lines (this is probably the case also with the Driftwood interchange with shipments to / from the southern parts of NS's network).  WNYP currently interchanges with NS at Olean, so I don't know if interchange will occur at these points, or will either NS or WNYP be allow rights over the other's trackage to interchange (e.g. WNYP to Buffalo or NS to the Olean yard).  Right now, NS sets out interchange to / from the Olean yard on a siding just north of Olean (it might be in Hinsdale, but I'm not sure).  This siding is a part of the wye that leads to the yard.  

Emporium is just north of Driftwood, IIRC and has one or two tracks that could accommodate interchange.  I <think> the track(s) are still there, but I haven't been down that way in 6 / 7 years (one of the last times was ca. 2000 when NS was rehabbing track in the area and I caught a MOW flat in original PRR lettering (not NS acquisition marks) in a photo(s) (which I would post, but not being that it's on chemicals, not digits, I can't search my PC to find it easily and would have to resort to searching through lots of unmarked paper.  I'm not sure if there is any facilities for interchange at Driftwood.

>>And I assume that "the Norfolk Southern rail yard in Allegany" (does NS still own it?) is what we
>>think of as the Olean yard?  Is that actually IN Allegany NY?

Allegany is just west of Olean (and technically could be called a 'suburb' since Olean is a 'city' in the legal municipal sense).  Also, as you travel parallel to yard on Constitution Ave. in Olean, (after exiting 17 on Buffalo Rd, then heading south under the former Erie / EL line and then make a right onto Constitution) you pass into Allegany.  The office, fueling pad, RIP track etc. is definitely in Allegany.  The border is just before you reach the retail development that BJ's, Home Despot, Wal Mart, etc. are in.  BTW, Wal Mart just had a well publicized zoning issue with Allegany over a proposed expansion.  This is just a stone's throw south from the yard.  To get back to the essence of your question, I think the yard actually is in both Olean and Allegany (my guess is most is in Allegany).  Remember the ex-Erie / EL line that runs north (or maybe north-northwest) of the yard  passes under the  NYS  Rt. 417 overpass just west of the western edge of the yard facilities
 by St. Bonaventure U. 

I hope this helps.  As to 'Tunnel Hill' and Port Allegany, I don't know.  The only thing I can tell you is that Port Allegany is on the Allegany River (also spelled Allegheny).  Having been there a number of times, I don't see how it is, or was, navigable, but maybe in Indian and through the early / mid 19th century, it may have been a point for trading by people in canoes or small flat bottomed boats.  There is a restaurant there named the Canoe Place Inn, but I have no idea if it truly has a connection with any relevant history.  

Regards,

Chris Thurner



 
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